Macomb County board, facing jail repair request, may look into building new one

12:05 AM,
Sep. 23, 2013

Corrections officer William Horan checks the cells in the Mental Health unit of the Macomb County jail in this file photo. Macomb County commissioners soon may begin exploring whether to build a new county jail or renovate the current one.

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Macomb County commissioners, who next month will be asked to spend $800,000 for mechanical repairs to the jail annex, soon may begin exploring whether to build a new county jail or renovate the current one.

Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said officials need to be aware of the jail's problems and look at the long-term needs of the 1,238-bed lockup, where earlier this month he declared a state of emergency because of seven straight days of overcrowding.

Deputy County Executive Mark Deldin estimated the cost of a new jail at $150 million to $200 million, while renovations to buildings on the campus ...